servers that have register_globals turned off (this is the
default setting on newer version of PHP).
In fact it's partly a hack that globalises all GET, POST, FILES
AND COOKIE variables. Unfortunately though the SESSION and
USER global session variables are only available as $_SESSION["USER"]
and $_SESSION["SESSION"], which is cumbersome to use.
So, for every request I now make a copy of these two session variables
into $USER and $SESSION. Whenever I update them thoughout Moodle I
now have to call save_session("USER") which copies them back to the
session variable. This seems to be working well now.
Because I'm using $_SESSION etc now this will raise
the required minimum version of PHP to 4.1.0
Basically the changes are:
- I've merged the 'discuss' module into the forum module
which makes the interface MUCH clearer for everyone
- I've added a new 'single' forum type that replicates
what the old discuss course modules used to look like.
- I've got rid of the "discussion" forum type - it will
still exist in upgraded courses but as a normal forum.
- the 'discuss' module is completely deleted - gone.
- the 'chat' module is completely deleted - gone.
- The upgrading system has been improved, and all code
is stored in version.php.
- I've put in upgrading commands to do the best I can
(right now) to upgrade courses that used the discuss
module. It should mostly work, just leaving some
"orphan" coursemodules on you course front page. You
can easily delete these using the little 'x'.
I may have forgotten something - I've only tested on
my testing server and I'm about to test on my production
server to see how it goes.
- Forums have a lot of little new features and fixes. The
main one is the subscription process. Teachers can 'force'
subscriptions on any forum. This disallows everyone from
choosing their own mail subscription - it's just on.
- The assignment module is half-finished and not working yet
I've still some massive changes to do, mostly involving making
all the lib.php function names more standardised, so consider
this is an interim checkin to do some tests.
Sections covers "weeks", "topics" and anything else that may come along.
Note, again, some databases have changed esp course_weeks -> course_sections
and several fields called "week" are now "section. Also course no longer
has an enddate, but instead has a numsections field.
except it isn't constrained by times. Useful for flexible courses
where the pace isn't known and is subject to change. The teacher
can "mark" the current topic and change this marking as necessary.
